Elise Morgan Whitley
Send Elise an email – ewhitley@wsncfamilylaw.com
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Education
- 2001: Juris Doctorate awarded by Wake Forest University School of Law
- Wake Forest University School of Law Moot Court Board – Moot Court Board Associate Chief Justice, and Constitutional Law Moot Court Team Member
- Wake Forest University School of Law – Trial Bar Member
- 1996: English, BA - The University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
Licensure, Bar Admittance, and Certifications:
- 2020: Certified Family Financial Mediator
- 2019: Certified Parent Coordinator
- 2014: Admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States of America
- 2001: Admitted to practice in the Federal Court for the Eastern District of North Caorlina
- 2001: Licensed as an Attorney and Counselor at Law by the North Carolina State Bar
Board Certification:
- 2006: Board Certified as Family Law Specialist by the North Carolina State Bar
- Recertified in 2011, 2016 and 2021
Law School Instruction:
- January 2013 – Present:
- Wake Forest University School of Law – Adjunct Professor teaching Advanced Family Law
Professional Honors and Awards:
- 2011 – Present: Listed in “The Best Lawyers in America” in the area of Family Law by Woodward/White
- 2012 – Present: Named “Legal Elite” in the area of Family Law by Business North Carolina
- 2013 – Present: Rated “AV” Preeminent, the Highest Possible Rating in both legal abilities and ethical standards reflecting the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and Judiciary – Martindale-Hubble / Lexis-Nexis
- 2014 – Present: Listed in “North Carolina Super Lawyers” in the area of Family Law
- 2015 - Named “Top 50 Women Attorneys in North Carolina” by Business North Carolina
- 2011 – 2013: Named “North Carolina Super Lawyers - Rising Star” in the area of Family Law
Professional Memberships and Committee Work:
- 2022 to Present: Member of the North Carolina Bar Association’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identify Committee
- 2022 to Present: Advisory Member for the North Carolina State Bar’s Committee on the Unauthorized Practice of Law
- 2020 - Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML)
- One of only approximately 35 Fellows of the AAML in North Carolina
- 2020 to Present: Member of the AAML LGBTQ+ Committee
- 2018 to Present: Co-Chair of Forsyth County Family Law Chambers (Family Law) Committee for the 21st Judicial District
- 2018 to 2019: Co-Chair of Drafting Committee for Local Rules (Chambers) – 21st Judicial District
- Tasked with, in consultation with the Bench and Bar, rewriting proposed Local Rules for Forsyth County governing Non-Equitable Distribution Family Law Cases (Chambers Cases). Local Rules adopted by the Bench and implemented July 1, 2019.
- 2018 to Present: Member of the Forsyth County Bar Association Local Grievance Committee
- 2018 to Present, and 2006 – 2008: Member of the Chief Justice Joseph Branch Inn of Court
- 2017 - 2018: Member of the North Carolina Board of Law Examiners Uniform Bar Exam Specialty Area Subcommittee (Family Law)
- 2013 – Member of the Wake Forest University School of Law Dean Search Committee
- 2006 – Present: Member of the Forsyth County Bar Association
- 2001 – Present: Member of the North Carolina Bar Association, Family Law Section
- 2020 to Present: Co-Chair of the Equitable Distribution Subcommittee of the North Carolina Bar Association Family Law Counsel
- 2012 – 2015: North Carolina Bar Association, Family Law Counsel – Counsel Board Member
- 2011 – 2016: North Carolina Bar Association, Family Law Counsel - Website Committee Co-chair
- 2003 – 2004: North Carolina Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division - Membership Co-Chair
- 2001 – 2005: Member of the Wake County Bar Association
2005 to Present: Regular Speaker and Moot Court Judge at Wake Forest University School of Law
- 2019 / 2020: Manuscript Co-Author and Co-Presenter – Issues in “Gray Divorce” Matters – North Carolina Bar Association – Family Law Intensive Seminar (November 2019 /January 2020)
- 2018: Manuscript Author and Presenter - “Preparing and Managing an Equitable Distribution Case” - North Carolina Bar Association – Make Family Law Great Again: 2018 Essentials of Family Law
- 2017: Manuscript Co-Author and Co-Presenter – “Case Law Updates” - North Carolina Advocates for Justice – Family Law Specialization Exam Review
- 2015: Manuscript Co-Author and Co-Presenter – “Defending Alienation of Affections and Criminal Conversation Claims” – North Carolina Family Law Specialists Annual Meeting
- 2012: Manuscript Author and Presenter – “Methods of Obtaining Information in Family Law Cases – Getting What You Actually Need” – North Carolina Advocates for Justice Family Law Section CLE Program
- 2011: Author: “What’s New? The 2011 Child Support Guidelines” in Family Forum published by the North Carolina Bar Association – Family Law Section
- 2011: Manuscript Author and Presenter: “Case Law Updates – Equitable Distribution, Contempt and Attorney’s Fees” – North Carolina Bar Association – 2011 Family Law Section Annual Meeting
- 2011: Manuscript Author and Presenter: “Expert Nuggets – Lessons Learned the Hard Way” – North Carolina Advocates for Justice – Rules of the Road with Experts
- 2010: Manuscript Author and Co-Presenter: “Taking Care of Business: Using Contempt to Enforce Orders” – North Carolina Bar Association Continue Legal Education Program
- 2009: Co-Author: “Domestic Violence Actions: Where Family Law and Criminal Law Meet” in Trial Briefs, published by the North Carolina Advocates for Justice
- 2008: Co-Author and Speaker: “Domestic Violence Actions: Where Family Law and Criminal Law Meet” – North Carolina Advocates for Justice – Magic Mountain
- 2007: Author: “Imputing Income in Child Support Cases: What is Bad Faith Anyway?” in Family Forum, published by the North Carolina Bar Association – Family Law Section
- 2007: Author: “Competency, Guardianship and Name Changes” in Trial Briefs, published by the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers
- 2006: Manuscript Author and Presenter: “Competency, Guardianship, and Name Changes” – North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers – Practicing Before the Clerk in Domestic Cases